Frequently Asked Questions

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As fall and winter bring colder temperatures, insects and other foods become scarce. Most insect-eating birds head south to find food.

Some species of birds spend the winter as close as the southern U.S. or as far as South America . Most insect-eating birds travel to Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. These birds actually spend more time on their tropical wintering grounds than they do on U.S. or Canadian breeding grounds.

As spring arrives the birds return north. But why not stay in the warm tropics where food is available year round? The main reason is the massive burst of emerging insects in the northern spring and the longer days in which to forage for food. Migrant birds can produce more young under these conditions than similar species in the tropics. There are also fewer predators, parasites, and diseases in temperate regions. More young can be produced and survive to adulthood, making migration worth the cost.

In North America there are four distinct flyways; the Atlantic, the Mississippi, the Central and the Pacific. Northwest Indiana falls within the Mississippi flyway. In our particular area bird migration is affected by Lake Michigan. Many birds follow the shorelines as they navigate seasonally up and down the lake. 

Many of them rest and feed in woods and fields at the south end of the lakeshore before proceeding north or south depending on the season. The lake itself attracts many species of waterfowl, which tend to concentrate at the southern most tip of the lake. Many shorebirds forage on the beach to fuel their long journey.

When the last Ice Age ended, the short cool summers favored animals like insects with short life cycles. Some bird species took advantage of the large food source and fewer competitors by expanding their ranges north. Migration may have started as birds began to make use of these areas made available by changing climate. However, they were forced to return south at the end of summer when insect populations dropped. 

Over time as more northerly areas warmed, birds were able to move farther and farther north. It is believed that some bird species gradually developed migration strategies to take advantage of temperate climates. It is also thought that current migration routes follow the same path on which habitats expanded as the ice retreated.

Yes, a daily draw occurs at 4:30 during each day of the waterfowl season.  No fee is collected to draw.  You must have 3 or four members of your party present at 4:30 to draw.  Singles or parties of 2 will be allowed to hunt stand by if any blinds are available.

Yes, the fee is $10 per person and $5 for youths and seniors.

A shooting schedule will be published that will identify which blinds will be open for the day and what the shooting times will be. Throughout the season blinds available for hunting and what the shooting times will be.

Yes, corn is planted at the following blinds: 6, 8, 3, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21.

No boats are available at all blinds that need them.

Yes. The shell limit is 25 and is strictly enforced.

Yes, draws will begin at 6:30 p.m. on January 3, 2018.

Yes. A $20 permit fee is required for each season and covers you until the season closes or you have filled your tag. This means that if you wish to hunt during the archery season you pay $20. This fee will cover you until the end of the season if you do not harvest an animal. Once an animal is harvested you must pay an additional $20 if you want to continue hunting during archery season. You are allowed to harvest a total of two deer during the Archery season. If you wish to hunt during muzzleloader or firearms season you need to pay an additional $20 per season.

Yes. Always make sure you purchase the correct hunting license for the correct season. Park does not honor urban licenses. However you can hunt with a bundle license sold by the state.

No. Hunting pressure at the park is sufficient without the need for a special season.

Four in total. Two during archery, one during firearms, and one during muzzleloader. With no more than one being an antlered deer. Also firearms season at the park is antlered deer only.

Yes. Come to the check station and we will identify areas that are off limits to deer hunting. Most of these areas that are close to waterfowl hunting areas. Also some areas may allow hunting with only certain equipment.

Yes, but there are parking areas located within the park that you are allowed to drive to. Maps located in the cabin will highlight the parking areas.

Only if number of hunters out-numbers allowed per hunting area at 5 a.m. After that we will operate on a first come first served basis. Hunters are expected to be respectful to other hunters when it comes to check in and check out time. There is no charge to draw.

No. Only shotguns and muzzleloaders are allowed during the firearm season.

Anything you'd buy at Bellaboo's! Admission, special events, cafe, toy shop, classes, camps, birthdays, and even annual passes!

Online gift card sales are temporarily paused, but will be back soon!

Once a card is activated it should be treated like cash, we do not mail them out. What we'll do instead is send you an email certificate that can you can print out and give to the recipient.  To pick up the card, the guest just needs to bring the certificate with them when they come to play (along with a photo ID) and we'll have the card ready for them at the front desk. Of course, you may also pick  the card up yourself.

No! And there are no fees to buy or use them. 

Bellaboo Bucks cards can be  made in any amount. You can find our prices for general admission HERE and Play Pass HERE. If you purchase your card let us know and we're happy to figure out the right amount, and we can include that information on your certificate  (i.e. You've been gifted Bellaboo's Bucks for an Annual Play Pass!). If you're  filling out the online form, and have a specific request let us know in the notes section.

Yes, but it unfortunately isn't speedy or automated. Give us a call or send an email to groups@mybellaboos.com with the card number (yes, all those zeros) and we'll pull the balance report for you. 

We're here and happy to help daily  from 10 am -6 pm. Give us a call or send an email to groups@mybellaboos.com .